BRENDAN RODGERS’S early-season problems have continued at Liverpool with Martin Kelly ruled out for at least six months with a cruciate ligament injury suffered against Manchester United.
The Liverpool right-back, who was included in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for Euro 2012, was forced off during Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Anfield following an innocuous-looking foul by Robin van Persie. Kelly landed awkwardly, however, and a scan revealed a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Liverpool have confirmed the 22-year-old requires surgery and will be sidelined “for a significant period of time”, with the defender unlikely to resume training until March. The news is a major setback for Kelly, who has been hampered by injury throughout his Liverpool career but had established himself under Kenny Dalglish and Rodgers.
He tweeted: “What I can say is its not the worst injury I’ve had, and for sure ill be fighting for my place next year when I’m back fitter and stronger!”
Rodgers received better news on injuries suffered by Daniel Agger and Fabio Borini but, with Jonjo Shelvey suspended following his sending off, he will be without four of the side that started against United when seeking a first league win of the season at Norwich City on Saturday.
Agger was carried off with suspected medial ligament damage after colliding with Glen Johnson in the build-up to United’s controversial winner. That has been down-graded to “a significant bone bruise to the left knee” and the Danish defender is targeting a return against Stoke on Sunday week. His agent, Per Steffensen, said: “It is very good news. Daniel hasn’t torn any ligaments. He has got a bruise on a bone behind his knee so right now it is very sore and a bit swollen but, as soon as that goes down, he can come back to training.”
Liverpool have been unable to confirm the extent of the ankle injury that forced Borini’s exit at half-time but it is not fractured. The club stated: “Medical staff will wait for the swelling to reduce before an MRI scan can take place tomorrow [Tuesday] to assess any soft-tissue damage.”
Johnson and Steven Gerrard, meanwhile, have claimed Luis Suarez’s reputation cost Liverpool a penalty during the defeat by United. Liverpool were aggrieved at several decisions by the referee, Mark Halsey, including his refusal to point to the spot when Jonny Evans challenged Suarez in the second half.
The Liverpool captain said: “I think even when Luis gets blatant penalties now he is never going to get them. It is down to referees to not judge him. They have got to make their decisions based on what they see. If it is not a penalty, they don’t give him one. But if it is clear, give him it. It’s only fair. He was booked last week at Sunderland and the one against United was a penalty.”
Johnson, who conceded the penalty that gave United victory with a challenge on Antonio Valencia, added: “I almost guarantee that, if you flipped the situation, if Luis was in the position of Valencia, he wouldn’t get a penalty. We all know that. Reputations go in front of people at times and, because Valencia is not someone who is known as a diver, he gets the decision. It wasn’t a penalty. I didn’t touch him. I collided with Pepe [Reina]. I didn’t touch Valencia at all.
“I know it is difficult for the referee, when we are sprinting as fast as we can, but in the big games they are the differences. We expect the referees to make the right decisions because we are working so hard every day in training. To have it taken away like that, you can’t really explain it.”
Guardian Service
REFEREE COMPLAINS TO POLICE: Vile tweets after Anfield clash
Referee Mark Halsey has complained to Greater Manchester Police about the vile tweets directed towards him and his wife following Liverpool’s defeat by Manchester United on Sunday.
Halsey’s fight against throat cancer in 2009 was referenced on Twitter after United’s win at Anfield, where the 51-year-old dismissed Liverpool’s Jonjo Shelvey for a dangerous challenge on Jonny Evans and awarded the late penalty that enabled Robin van Persie to seal the victory. Halsey’s wife, who has also been fighting cancer, was even mentioned in some tweets.
“I can confirm that my family have made a complaint to the police,” Halsey said. “I will be speaking to the police on Wednesday after I have returned from refereeing Southampton v Sheffield Wednesday.”
One of the abusive messages came from an account named @johnwareing1 and read: “I hope Mark Halsey gets cancer again and dies”. Another, from @lfcjohn259, said: “Mark Halsey shouldve died of cancer”, before being deleted. Both accounts have since been removed.
The abuse was condemned as “beneath contempt” by the match officials’ union, Prospect. Alan Leighton, national secretary of
the union, said: “Prospect wholeheartedly condemns the unacceptable abuse aimed at Mark Halsey on Twitter. The comments made by a very small minority will be seen as beneath contempt by all decent people. The main concern now is for Mark and his family, who are receiving the support of his employer, PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited). Prospect will also provide any assistance as required.”
Halsey returned to refereeing in March 2010 and, after the League Cup match at Southampton, is due to take charge of Fulham against Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday. A statement from PGMOL read: “PGMOL abhors any abuse of match officials . . . Our main concern is towards Mark and his family . . . there is a backroom team who are there for them. This includes a sports psychologist, who has worked extensively with the Select Group including Mark over the past few years.
The English FA, meanwhile, is not expected to take any action over offensive chanting by United supporters after Sunday’s game.
Guardian Service
